Irina was on the brink of tears. That long and chilly thing… how could she—who had raised a nest of little snakes—not be able to tell what that was.

“It’s under my skirt. Ah!” Irina let out a raspy shriek, her voice sounding even shakier now. “It’s coiled itself around my leg…”

1

Muir swam to Irina’s side and reached out a hand towards her skirt.

“Oi!” Irina was so startled that she felt a layer of heat spread over her cold body. Her originally stiff body became stiffer yet.

“Don’t cry, I’m just catching the snake,” Muir replied in his deep voice. His arms were rather long, to begin...